History Of The Houses Of Parliament

This institutional history charts the development and evolution of parliament from the Scottish and Irish parliaments, through the post-Act of Union parliament and into the devolved assemblies of the 1990s. It considers all aspects of parliament as an institution, including membership, parties, constituencies and elections.

For the first time in over twenty years, the exquisite and unique building of the Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is the subject of an authoritative and fully illustrated publication, offering new insight into Britain's most famous and celebrated symbol of state. Spanning the medieval period to the present day, The Houses of Parliament: History, Art, Architecture is a fresh, innovative study of this unique and complex Victorian building, placing it within a broad historical, political, and cultural context. The absorbing narrative is complemented by newly commissioned photography and rarely seen archival material, revealing the richly ornamented interiors, the art and the architecture, and how they relate to the political institutions within this monumental edifice, the site of British authority since the eleventh century. -- First book published on the building for over 20 years. -- Fresh perspectives on the history, architecture, art and design of one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world. -- Sumptuously illustrated with newly commissioned photography and unseen archival material and artwork from the medieval period to the present day. -- The scene of many of the most famous and significant events in British history and politics. Continues to be at the centre of the British political world today. -- One of the most visited monuments in Europe, drawing millions of tourists from Britain and around the world each year.

Rebuilding the Houses of Parliament explores the history of the UK Houses of Parliament in Westminster from an environmental design perspective, and the role David Boswell Reid played in the development of the original ventilation and climate control system in parliament. This book retraces and critically examines the evolution of the environmental principles underlying the design of the Houses of Parliament, engaging with fundamental questions about air quality, energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This yields insights into the historic methods of environmental design that were characterised by physical experimentation and post-occupancy evaluation. Rebuilding the Houses of Parliament examines the history of the buildings' operation, studying the practical reality of its performance in use and offers the opportunity to reflect on current challenges faced by architects and engineers adapting to the realities of climate change. This book is an ideal read for academics, politicians and practitioners with an interest in architectural history and heritage, theory, engineering and conservation.